Footwear and Lower Leg Covering

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a boot and lower leg covering having a boot upper portion and an upstanding leg cover portion adapted to wrap around a wearer&#39;s lower leg and secure thereto. The boot upper region includes an enclosed toe cap that wraps around the cap of a wearer&#39;s footwear and extends thereunder to secure the entire toe portion therein. The base of the boot upper region comprises an open bottom to allow direct contact between the ground and a wearer&#39;s sole, and further allow for ease of application. The upstanding leg cover portion includes a body region having a first and second separable edge that join together around the backside of the wearer&#39;s leg along a line of connection. This connection form-fits the leg cover around the user and draws the toe cap inward against the wearer&#39;s toe, where tension in the material maintains the covering position while in use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/649,685 filed on May 21, 2012, entitled “Jeans-B-Clean.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to show and lower leg covers or gaiters. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a lower leg covering adapted to protect a user's pants and shoes from debris while working, where the base of the wearer's shoes are exposed to minimize interference with the inherent traction of the wearer's footwear and the ease of application of the device.

A common problem for both homeowners and professional workman is the issue of debris, paint and dirt that becomes airborne during a project or job that accumulates along the lower portion of one's legs and over the exposed regions of the wearer's article of footwear. For homeowners or professionals engaging in landscaping, painting or similar projects about the house, it is not convenient to dirty a pair of pants and footwear article during the activity. Activities such as weed whacking, lawn mowing, driveway sealing, painting and other such activities create airborne or liberated debris that can easily stick to the upper portion of a pair of shoes and cover the lower portions of a pair of paints, necessitating thorough cleaning or complete disposal thereof. For those particularly hot days, some landscapers using weed whackers may not wear long pants at all and opt for shorts, which can lead to direct user contact with the flying dirt and grass clippings. It is submitted that a lower leg and footwear covering is required in the art for the foregoing activities.

Common footwear coverings are very industry or task specific, and include foul weather gaiters and dress shoe covers, as well as clean room and health care shoe covers. Most of these devices either provide a full foot covering that surrounds the footwear upper and tread region, or provides a lower leg gaiter or covering that does not extend over the footwear upper. The primary drawback to complete footwear coverings is the lack of traction permitted once the base or sole portion of the footwear is covering. Unless the covering includes a strip of traction material, covering the sole of a wearer's shoe or boot can result in loss of footing, slipping and falling. Those devices that provide only a lower leg cover leave exposed the upper portions of a wearer's shoes or boots, which are just as susceptible to debris.

The present invention provides a lower leg and upper footwear covering that is simple to apply, secures to a wearer easily and efficiently, and does not interfere with the traction provided by the tread of a wearer's shoe or boot. The device is design to provide a barrier between a wearer and airborne elements that may be created during a work project, including flying grass clippings, dirt, paint, roofing tar, driveway sealer and other common household projects. The covering becomes dirtied and is readily removable, washable or disposable if desired, saving the user from having to wash or replace his or her pants or shoes after the activity. The covering is a fabric or elastic material that covers the toe cap of a wearer's footwear and is drawn tautly against his or her shoe upper, while the upstanding leg covering is secured along an adjustable vertical line of connection that secures the leg covering around the heel and back of the lower leg of the wearer. No shoe removal or intensive process is required to apply the device prior to working or remove the device after the job is completed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to shoe and leg covering devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to shoe gaiters, and leg and shoe covers. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 1,782,504 to Cooper discloses a boot legging adapted to surround the upper portion of a wearer's boot and lower portion of the wearer's pants using a form-fitting garment. The garment comprises a main portion having adjacent edges that fasten together along the backside of the wearer's leg. The lower portion of the garment terminates over the upper portion of a wearer's boot, and extends upward along the wearer's lower leg. A strap is further provided that wraps under the wearer's boot to retain the position of the garment while deployed. The Cooper device is a well known and utilized leg covering for the upper portion of a boot; however the Cooper device provides no covering for the entire boot region. The present invention includes a boot covering having a cap extending over the toe region of a boot, while an upstanding body region covers the wearer's lower leg.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,443 to Czaplewski discloses a protective footgear that is well adapted for clean room environments and shielding footwear and lower leg areas. The device comprises a one-piece bootie that wraps around the entire foot and includes an upper edge having elastic tensioning and a means to connect to a legging extending up the lower leg of the wearer. A finger loop is provided along the heel portion of the bootie to assist donning the device. The Czaplewski, while disclosing a combination legging and boot covering, fails to provide a device that does not compromise traction or footing while donned. The present invention is adapted for outdoor and construction project use, where traction is important for safety. The base of the present lower leg and boot covering is open to allow contact between the ground and the wearer's footwear tread.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,646 to Hall discloses a cover for an athletic shoe having an elastic fabric upper portion covering at least the mid-foot region of a shoe and leaving exposed the gripping surfaces of the shoe sole. A zipper is provided along the upper portion to open the interior of the cover and allow insertion of a wearer's shoe therein. The toe portion is optionally exposed, while the structure form-fits to the wearer's shoe and terminates just above the shoe. The present invention provides a construction or project cover to prevent contaminants from dirtying one's shoes and lower leg region. The present invention terminates much higher on the leg for this reason, and includes a toe portion that wraps around the sole portion near the toe to maintain its position, in conjunction with a rear seam that is attachable along a line of connection.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,816 to Davison discloses a gaiter rand for a boot comprising an elastic material adapted to stretch over a boot and connect along the arch of the boot and over the boot upper and heel portion. A pair of apertures provides for placement of the wearer's heel and forward sole portion therethrough to allow contact with the boot tread with the ground surface. The dimensions of the device are slightly less than the boot, such that the device is stretched over the boot for a snug fit requiring no additional fastening. A rib groove ensures the device stays in position on the boot while in operation. The Davison device, while providing a form-fitting gaiter requiring no fastening, employs a structure that is divergent in design and intent from that of the present invention. The present invention comprises a fabric or elastic covering material that secures about the wearer using a toe hold and a rear line of connection spanning the length of the lower leg covering.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,250 to Bell discloses a leg, ankle and foot apparel protector having a leg cover piece, a shoe cover piece and a sole piece. The shoe cover piece is a generally tapered shape converging to a rounded tip and having a half-moon shape to fit the forward portion of a shoe tip therein. A horizontal strap attaches a vertical edge of the leg cover piece and a shoe cover strap fastens the shoe cover to the heel of the shoe. Tension is drawn between the straps and the leg and shoe cover pieces to retain the cover position during use. While the Bell device is a similar structure of that of the present invention, the Bell device does not provide complete, surrounding protection about a wearer's leg and shoes. Only the forward sections of the shoe, the shoe upper and the shin portion of the wearer are protected, while the calf region and the heel of the shoe are exposed. The present invention provides a line of connection that mates the upstanding body portion of the cover around the wearer's lower leg, while the shoe portion covers the entire shoe and leaves only the sole or tread portion of a boot exposed for traction purposes.

The present invention provides a complete lower leg and shoe upper covering that prevents direct contact with contaminates or debris during an activity or project. The device includes a toe cap region that forms around the toe of the wearer's footwear, while the backside of the cover is connected along a vertical line of connection to draw the toe region towards the footwear and form-fit the cover around the wearer's leg. The cover provides a clothing and footwear shroud that leaves the lower portion of the footwear exposed for traction purposes and ease of application. It is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing leg and footwear covering devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of leg and footwear covering devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new covering device that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when covering the wearer's pants and work shoes during a landscaping, construction, or home improvement project.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved leg and footwear covering device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a leg and footwear covering device having a flexible and elastic structure that is adapted to cover the entirety of a wearer's shoe upper and lower leg region below the knee to prevent contact with airborne debris sources during a project.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leg and footwear covering device that includes a boot upper region having a toe cap that surrounds the toe region of a wearer's footwear, while the sides of the boot upper region extend along the sides of the footwear and around the heel, leaving the sole of the shoe open for traction purposes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a leg and footwear covering device that offers a wearer a barrier between debris sources during a job and the wearer's clothing and shoes, whereby the covering is readily deployable, removable and thereafter washable or discardable as desired.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a frontal perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an underside perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the present invention in a working state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the lower leg and footwear covering device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for shrouding user's lower pants leg and boot upper during a landscaping or construction project. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the lower leg and footwear covering of the present invention. The covering comprises a boot upper portion 12 and an upstanding lower leg body portion 11. The boot upper portion 12 comprises a curved material area having a lower edge and a distal end terminating at a toe cap region 13 that is adapted to surround the end of a wearer's footwear near the toe region thereof. The toe cap 13 extends over the front of a wearer's foot and terminates 14 thereunder in the form of a ledge. The top cap therefore becomes a partially enclosed volume that accepts the tip of the user's foot and from which support can be drawn when tightening the cover and forming it to the wearer during deployment. The upstanding lower leg portion 11 or body region is a segment having a largely rectangular shape and an upper termination 17 adapted to be placed below the knee of a user. The backside of the body region includes first 15 and second 16 vertical edge forming a separable line of connection along the back of a wearer's lower leg. When donned, the toe cap 13 is placed over the wearer's toe area and the edges 15, 16 of the body region are drawn together about the backside of the wearer's lower leg and secured using a fastening material along each edge.

To ensure that most shoe and boot sizes are accommodated, the material of the body region can be drawn across the backside of the user's leg whereby the edges 15, 16 can be significantly overlapped and secured to form-fit the covering material to the wearer's apparel. To accomplish this, it is preferred that an elongated length 19 of hook and loop fastening material be provided along one of the body portion edges 16, while horizontal lengths 18 of corresponding hook and loop material are provided along an opposite edge 15 to allow the two edges of the body region to be overlapped to varying degrees when securing the device. The overlapping edges draw the material tighter on the wearer's lower leg and further draw the top cap region 13 inward toward the wearer's foot. The tension developed in the material maintains the covering position and ensures a form-fitting structure that resists movement while in use and does not cause a trip hazard for the user.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an underside perspective view of the present invention. In this view, the open lower portion 20 of the shoe upper region 12 is visualized. The toe cap of the shoe is completely surrounded by an underside ledge 14 that encloses the toes of a user and allows the covering to be drawn against the end of the wearer's shoe and thus form-fit the covering thereover. Also visualized is the overlapping nature of the body region 11 first and second ends 15, 16. It is contemplated that a single size may accommodate all user shoe sizes or at least large ranges thereof, whereby the overlapping nature of the body region line of connection allows for adjustment of the covering and forms the covering closely to the wearer while donned. While in a working position, the cover open bottom 20 allows the tread of the wearer's footwear to be exposed to ensure adequate traction around a worksite, while the overall length of the upstanding body portion terminates 17 just below the user's knee to adequately cover the lower pants region of the user.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention in a working state, positioned over the lower portion of a user's pant legs 41 and over the user's footwear. The toe cap region 13 surrounds the forward portion of the footwear and the boot upper portion 12 is drawn thereagainst as the body region 11 backside edges are connected and secured about the rear of the user's leg 41. The sole and tread 31 of the wearer's footwear is exposed through the open bottom, allowing direct contact between the user's footwear and a ground surface for traction purposes. It is submitted that traction is an important safety consideration during a landscaping and construction projects, where the user must maintain his or her footing to prevent injury or damage to material. The exposed tread prevents loss of traction, slipping or falling injuries when handling tools or when operating in relatively dangerous environments.

The material of the covering is preferably a fabric and elastic material that can conform to the wearer's foot and leg, yet is rugged enough to be stretched and not tear during deployment. A fabric material provides a barrier for landscaping debris, paint, tar and other debris, yet is inexpensive, washable and readily disposable if necessary. The construction of the covering may include a segmented, composite structure having a lower leg region connected to the boot upper region, which is formed to have a rounded shape and further having an underside overhang or ledge to catch the bottom portion of the wearer's footwear. For a fabric material, the segments can be sewn or otherwise joined along their boundaries to form the covering assembly. An alternate embodiment of the covering material includes a waterproof or rubberized material, which can be utilized if the user is protecting his or her pants and shoes when operating near water, including cleaning operations, pressure washing environments or car cleaning activities.

When working outdoors or completing a home repair or painting project, debris and paint can often become airborne. As a result, a user's feet and pant legs often become soiled with dirt, water, paint or other debris. The debris may additionally make contact with the user directly, which can cause injury as a result of being hit by flying objects. After the project is complete, users may track the debris into the house, and dirty interior spaces, and the user's pants and shoes may be permanently damaged or soiled. To address this common problem, the present invention provides a lower leg and shoe protector that is used to keep debris from adhering to and ruining the user's pants and shoes, and further to prevent injury to any exposed skin. The device can be easily placed over the shoes and around the legs, and is secured using appropriate fasteners, such as hook-and-loop fastening material. After a user's project has been completed, the product can then be easily removed, cleaned and stored for later use. The device is particularly beneficial for use at home or by business owners who are engaged in trimming weeds and grass, commercial landscaping or grass cutting operations, or painting companies involved with spray paint application. Further applications include spray painting activities, parking lot striping, driveway sealing, roofing activities and fiberglass fabrication. It is not desired to limit the uses of the present invention to a set of activities, but rather to provide a set of contemplated activities or projects for which the present cover is particularly well suited.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A lower leg and footwear covering, comprising: a boot upper region having a tubular shape and a flat bottom, a first and a second end; said tubular shape first end forming a toe cap region; said flat bottom comprising an open area and a ledge beneath said toe cap; said toe cap and ledge forming a partially enclose volume adapted to accept the toe region of a wearer's footwear therein; said open area adapted to allow said footwear sole to be largely uncovered; an upstanding lower leg body portion extending from said tubular shape second end and comprising a generally rectangular shape having a first and second vertical edge and an upper edge; said upstanding body region adapted to be placed around a wearer's lower leg; said first and second edge forming a line of connection via a fastening means, said line of connection adapted to be positioned along said wearer's heel and calf region.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second vertical edge of said body region overlap on another to establish said line of connection, drawing said toe cap and said body region against said user.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first vertical edge comprises a plurality of horizontal patches of hook and loop fasteners and said second vertical edge comprising an elongated vertical patch of corresponding hook and loop fasteners to allow said line of connection to accommodate overlap of said first and second vertical edges.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said boot upper region and upstanding body region comprises an elastic fabric material.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said boot upper region and upstanding body region comprises a waterproof material.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said boot upper region and upstanding body region comprises an elastic rubberized material. 